Communication system



Jan. 4, 1938. A. R. NoLL.

l COMMUNICATION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed oet. 25, 1935 T 5 d B D. 5

l 5 L R C Z Y VA W V U T S R Q D. 0 N M L K J A B C D E F G H INVENTOR LETTER ABCDEFGHIJKLMNGPQRSTUVwXYZ-w BELL STA RT' BY ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1938. A. R. NOLL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Filed ct. 25, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 lNyENTOR Yw @WMZ B ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 4, 1938 PATENT oFFlcE COMIVIUNICATION SYSTEM New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application .October 23, 1935, Serial No. 46,278

11 Claims.

This invention relates ,to communication systems and more particularly to selecting systems of the non-synchronous type.

The principle of operation of the system employed in the present invention instead of depending on the synchronous operation of the transmitting and receiving units operates on the basis of the transmission of signals of predetermined current values to which the receiving unit will give a denite and different response to each signal. A system of this type is fully disclosed and described in a copending application, Serial No. 737,013,filed July 26, 1934.

The present invention is in the form of animprovement of the system described in the aforesaid application. Briefiy and broadly, the system in said application comprises a transmitting unit to initiate character signals consisting of code combinations of impulses having differential current values and polarity. The receiving unit includes relay devices sensitive to said impulse characteristics to control the selection of different circuits, for example, a galvanometer relay of the DArsonval type may be used to respond to the dierent current values employed and the polarity of the impulses, so that the relay brush or armature is positioned to engage one of `a plurality of contacts in accordance with the characteristics of the character signal. In addition thereto, another relay device may be used to be responsive only to the number of impulses included in the code combinations, in turn, controlling a device such as a relay to beroperated step by step such as the Well known type of stepping relay.

A plurality of circuits are 'associated with the galvanometer relay contacts and with the contacts of the stepping relay and are arranged so that upon the respective positioning of the galvanometer relay and the stepping relay, a single circuit corresponding to the character signal is selected to be energized effecting registration of the selected character.

It is an object of the present invention to provide vfor a. simplified selecting system which is capable of a faster rate of operation than heretoiore for similar type systems. The object ,is achieved by including the following features: by elimination of the said galvanometer -relay and said stepping relay and substituting therefor simple individual relays and associated control circuits.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism emfor each bodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention v also constitutes certain new and useful features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one orm of the connections of the impulse transmitter.

Fig. 2 is a preferred form of the code used'in conjunction with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing one form of circuit arrangement of the receiving system.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a plurality of pulse wheels or disks I4 are shown with a combination of conducting segments i6 thereon. The arrangement and number of conducting segments disk corresponds to the code shown in Fig. 2, for example, the character P", the code of which is current value 4, positive polarity and four impulses, namely, three short impulses and one long impulse. Therefore, on the disk I4 for thesaid character, four conducting segments I6 are disposed thereon so that the three shortA pulses of current are conducted before the long segment engages the contacts I1 to transmit the long impulse of its corresponding current value.

It is to be noted that for the characters represented by a plurality of impulses, the last impulse is always along impulse, the signiiicance of which will be understood as the description progresses. Each disk therefore has disposed thereupon the number of segments to correspond to the number of'impulse's in its particular code. It is suiil- `cient to f mention that upon depression of a character key of a typewriter (not shown) its corresponding 'disk il is released to complete one revolution, thereby conducting the proper `increment of current value, polarity and the number of impulses representing the character, to the connected line network. A further descriptionV of the transmitting system may be had by refer.-

- .ring to the said prior application in which the impulses are of positive or negative polarity respectively.

The positioning of armature 21 is effective to connect the line upon which the signal impulses are impressed to either the group of relays 2| to 24 inclusive or the group of relays 2|-B to 24-B inclusive. The description of operation will be limited to the group of relays 2| to 24 and the method of eiecting a circuit selection by said relays, since it will be obvious as the description progresses that the group of relays 2|-B to 2,4-B are operated in exactly in the salme manner as the group to be described presently. The said groups of relays are shown to comprise conventional energizing windings o|r coils designated 2|-A, 22-A, etc. and holding windings or coils designated 2|-C, 22-C, etc. The energizing coils are connected in a parallel group arrangement and terminate at the contacts 28 and 29 of the polar relay 25. Relay 2| is adjusted to be sensitive andresponsive to the rst current value, relay 22 responsive to the second current value, relay 23 responsive to the third current value and relay 24 responsive to the fourth current value.

It is obvious that upon the reception of a signal pulse of a particular current value, the

'relay corresponding 'to that current value will be operated and in addition thereto all the relays adjusted to be responsive to current values less than the'said particular current value.

' However, only the holding coil of the relay responsive and corresponding to the particular current Value will be energized to maintain the selected relay in an operated position. This is eiected by the normally closed contacts C-I and the normally open contacts C-3 of the relays.

'For example, assume that the character signal for P is impressed upon the line and by reference to Fig. 2 itis seen that the signal comprises four impulses of positive polarity and the fourth current value. Relay 25 is energized to position the armature 21 to engage contact 28 and thereby connects the line by conductor 35 through the normally closed contacts 36, contact 28 and common conductor 38 to the energizing coils of the group of relays 2| to 24. `Dueto the current value impressed thereupon, relays 2| 22, 23 and 24 are operated momentarily, however, upon operation of the said relays, the normally closed contacts C-I associated therewith (with the exception of relay 2 I) are opened thereby preventing battery 38 to energize any of the holding coils 2|-C, 22-C, 23-C and 24-C excepting coil 24-C as follows: from grounded battery 38, normally closed contacts 39, conductor 40, coil 24-0, contact C-3 (now closed) associated with relay 24, to ground 4|. Contacts C-3 associated with relays 2| to 24 are normally open and prevent any possible energization of the holding coils 2|-,C to 24-C unless the associated relay is operated. The C-2 contacts associated with the relays 2| to 24 when closed due to the operation of any one of thesaid relays connect grounded battery 42 by common conductors 43 and 44 to winding of relay 45, operating the said relay and opening the normally closed contacts 36 associated therewith.

This prevents further energization of the energizing coils of'the relays 2| to 24 by the parpulses are impressed; the said relay is adjusted to be responsive only to the long impulses of the code which as shown in Fig. 2 are the last impulses transmitted. Operation of relay 48 permits grounded battery to operate one of the relays 3| to 34 through the closed C-4 contact assooiated with the particular relay of relay groups 2| to 24.

It is seen therefore from the description just set forth, that upon and during the transmission of the character pulses for character P, relay 24 is energized and a locking circuit is established to maintain the relay in an operated condition until thecircuit selection is completed, thereby permitting relay 34, connected to the associated C-,4 contact, to be connected in a circuit, which, when the last impulse is received is energized due to the operation of relay 48, and thereby energizing and operating the relay 34 causing the contacts a, b, c, d, associated therewith to be closed. In this manner a predetermined number of circuits, namely four, are selected from 'a plurality of circuits.

It will now be shown how a further selection of a single circuit is effected from the said predetermined number of circuits.

Relay 26, as mentioned hereinbefore, is associated with the line and is responsive only to the number of character signal impulses included in the combinational code. Operation of relay 26 permits grounded battery 38 to operate relay 50 causing contact 5| to be closed. It is to be noted that for each impulse impressed upon the line relays 2liA and 50 are operated and establish momentarily a circuit through the make before break contacts associated with relay 50. Assume now that the signal impulses for character P are impressed on the line, namely, three short impulses and one long impulse, of course, it is understood that the polarity and current value of the pulses do not affect this part of the selecting circuit.

Upon reception of the first impulse relays 26 and 5U are operated to provide momentarily a circuitas follows: grounded battery 38, normally closed contacts 39, common conductor 52, winding of relay 53, the normally closed contact associated therewith, contact 5| and the normally closed contact associated with relay 5D, contact 54 to ground. This circuit is established momentarily due to the make and break contacts associated with relay 58, however, the said circuit established for an interval of a second permits relay 53 to be operated and locked up through the contact 55 associated therewith.

Contacts 56 and 51 are also operated, contact 56 establishing a circuit to lthe winding of relay 58 (it is apparent, however, that relay 58 at this time cannot be operated, since the normally closed contact associated with relay 58 is now open) and contact 51 connecting ground 59 to the circuits associated with the common conductor 6|) through common conductor 6|, normally closed contact E2 and contact 51 now closed. It is noted, however, that a selection of a circuit from the predetermined circuits selected by relay 36 is not affected by the operation of relay 53 and the connection of ground 59 to the circuit 50. l

Upon reception of the second impulse relays 26 and 50 are operated again establishing a circuit momentarily from grounded battery 38- through normally closed contacts 39, common conductor 52, Windingv of relay 58, the normally closed contact associated therewith, contacts 55 4 closed to the common. conductor 66 and thecircuits associated therewith. Again, it is apparent that a selection of a circuit fromthe said predetermined circuits selected by relay 34 is not eiected by operationof relay 58 and the connection of ground 59 to the circuit 66.

Closure of contact 61 establishes a circuit to winding of relay 66, however, the said relay is not affected until the third operation of relays 26 and 50 which occurs upon the reception of the third impulse and thereby establishing the following circuit momentarily: from grounded battery 38 through normally closed contacts 39 to common conductor 52, winding of relay 68, normally closed contacts associated therewith, contacts 61, 56, and I now closed, normally closed contact associated with relay 50 and contact 54 now closed, to ground. Relay 66^is now operated and locked up through the contacts 69 now closed, to ground 59. ,Said ground is now disconnected from the common conductor 6 6 due to the contact 6d now opened, and transferred to common conductor 1-0 through contact 1| now closed, and normally closed contact 12. However, a selection of a circuit from the said predetermined circuits selected by relay 34 is not affected by the connection of the said ground to the common conductor 1li.

Closure of contact 13 establishes a circuit to winding of relay 1t, but Iit is understood that the said relay is not operated until the reception of the fourth impulse whereupon relays 26 and 5l@ arev operated to establish the following circuit: From groundedA battery 38, normally closed contacts 39, common conductor 52,' winding of l relay 1t, the normally closed contact associated therewith and contacts 13, 61, 56 and 5I now closed, normally closed contacts associated with relay 50i and contacts 5t now closed to ground. Relay 1t is operated and lacked up through the contact 15 now closed. Ground 59 is transferred from common conductor 1U to common conductor 16, due to the contact 12 being opened and contact 11 being closed due to the operation of 4relay 141.

ample, such as a punch or typewriter and may be connectedso that uponenergization the key bars of the particular registering or recording unit are depressed accordinglyY to effect registration of the character. Further description of a suitable recorder is deemed unnecessary because a complete disclosure thereof may be had by `referring to the said aforementioned application. I'

Similarly, in a manner just described, it is possible to select any of the other solenoid circuits in accordance with the reception of corresponding character signal impulses. Further description of the operating' circuits is deemed unnecessary since it is obvious that the selection of any circuit may be effected in a similar manner as explained hereinabove;

Upon depression or operation of the key bars of a recording unit, common contacts 39 are adapted to beV operated and opened. Specific mechanism for this provision is not shown since it is old and well known in the art; one method which has been used heretofore is to provide a common bar beneath the key bars of the typei writer and arranged so that the depression of the character key bars lowers the common bar which in turn causes the common contacts to be opened.

It is apparent from the description set forth hereinabove that upon operation of the contacts 39 all the condition and locked upirelays are restored to normal condition due to disconnectirm grounded battery 38 from the circuits established and described. Therefore, the relays 53, 58, 68 and 14 operated and locked up successively are restored to normal condition, due to the opening of the said holding circuits, similarly relays 24, 34 and 45 are returned to normal due to opening the respective energized circuits described.

It is evident from the description just set forth thatV upon operation of the recording unit the conditioned control circuits for the relay selecting circuits just described are all restored to the normal condition as shown in the drawings and in a condition to continue subsequent selection of character circuits in accordance with the character signals. From the description set forth regarding the successive selective relay circuits,

it is obvious that if the character codecombina- Voperation of the recording unit restores the con-f ditioned circuits and relays to normal similarly as described herein.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a communication system comprising a plurality of circuits corresponding to predetermined signals, means for transmitting signals consisting of code combinations of impulses of diierent current values and polarity, means comprising individual relay devices responsive to said current values and polarity of the impulses and Aso means responsive to the dierent number of impulses included in said code to select circuits corresponding to the transmitted signals from the said plurality of circuits.

2. In a. communication system comprising a plurality of circuits corresponding to predetermined signals, means for transmitting signals consisting of code combinations of impulses of diierent current strength and polarity, means comprising individual relay devices responsive to said current strength and polarity and means simultaneously responsive to the diiierent number of impulses included in said code to select circuits corresponding to the transmitted signals from. the said plurality of circuits, means to energize the said selected circuits, and means to determine the timed interval the said circuits are permitted to remain energized.

3. In a communication system comprising-a plurality of circuits corresponding to predetermined signals, means for transmitting signals consisting of code combinations of impulses of diierent current strengths and polarity, means comprising individual -relay devices responsive to said current strengths and polarity and means responsive to the diierent number of impulses included in said code to select from the plurality of circuits those which correspond to the transmitted signals, means to energize the said selected circuits, and recording means operated by said energized circuits.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 in which means are provided to deenergize the selected circuits upon operation of said recording means.

5. In a selective system, means for transmitting combinations of impulses having different current values and polarity, a plurality of circuits, means comprising individual relay devices responsive to said impulse characteristics and means responsive to the successive and varying number of impulses of the said combinations to select a circuit from the said plurality of circuits.

6. The invention set forth in claim 5 in which means are provided to prevent more than one of said individual relay devices to be effective in said selection in response to the impulses of yp redetermined characteristics.

7. In a selective system, means for transmitting code combinations of impulses of predetermined and diiferent current values and polarity, a plurality of circuits, means comprising individual relay devices sensitive and responsive t9 the particular current value -transmitted and means responsive to the polarity and the diierent number of impulses in the code to select a circuit from said circuits, a number of said relay devices sensitive to current values less than the said particular current value operated by the said particular current value, and means for rendering all the said devices inoperative except the one which is representative of the said particular current value.

8. In a selective system, means for transmitting combinations of impulses having different current values and polarity, a plurality of circuits, means comprising individual relay devices responsive to said impulse characteristics and means comprising a train of individual relay devices responsive to the successive and varying number of impulses of the said combination to select a. circuit from the said plurality of circuits.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 in which means are provided to energize the said selected circuit upon reception of the last 'impulse of said combination.

10. The invention set forth in claim 8 in which an impulse translating relay device responsive to the number of said impulses is provided to operate the said train of individual relay devices successively by successive operation of said impulse translating device.

11. The invention set forth in claim 8 in which means are provided so that the operation of one of said relay devices of said train establishes a circuit thereby so that the next one of said relays may be operated by the said successive impulses. l

AUSTIN R. NOLL. 

